Date set for Burnley Crown Post Office closure

The move will go ahead next month despite widespread public opposition.

Post Office bosses have announced that the Hargreaves Street branch will close at 5.30pm on Wednesday, April 23.

A replacement branch will open in the new WH Smith store in the Charter Walk shopping centre the following morning.

Burnley Council leader Julie Cooper has slammed the decision, claiming it will result in a poorer service for local customers.

She said: “It’s a disgrace that they haven’t listened to people in Burnley. Ultimately it will result in a reduced service.

“WH Smith is too far small to cope and the staff are not properly trained to deliver post office services.

“Only one member of staff is transferring across, the others have made other arrangements. It doesn’t bode well. It's a sad day for Burnley.” However, the Post Office has stuck by its decision to close its crown branch in Burnley, despite a public consultation and a petition of more than 4,000 names against the closure being handed over by local campaigners.

Roger Gale, Crown Network general manager, said: “We are committed to keeping a Post Office branch in Burnley and to maintaining the same levels of service for our customers. We believe the best way for us to do this is to change the way we operate it, so it will be run by WHSmith High Street Ltd rather than by us directly.”

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A Post Office spokeswoman said the same range of services would be available.

The new branch will have a mixture of screened and open counters and will have opening hours extended by nine and a half hours per week, including four hours of service on Sundays.

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Comments (5)

Never mind, we still have lots of sub post offices. Oh hang on, I forgot, they were closed by Labour with the help of Kitty Usher.

Never mind, we still have lots of sub post offices.
Oh hang on, I forgot, they were closed by Labour with the help of Kitty Usher.DaveBurnley

Never mind, we still have lots of sub post offices. Oh hang on, I forgot, they were closed by Labour with the help of Kitty Usher.

Score: 16

geegee3 says...4:29pm Fri 7 Mar 14

I feel another pound shop coming on !!!

I feel another pound shop coming on !!!geegee3

I feel another pound shop coming on !!!

Score: 5

Truth will out says...5:39pm Fri 7 Mar 14

"Ultimately it will result in a reduced service" says Julie Cooper. Really? Go in at a lunchtime (when most people can go in) and see how they're happy to leave 2 people serving while everyone queues. If Julie Cooper is worried about Post Office "service" she might want to focus her attention on discouraging the CWU from calling wildcat strikes in Burnley for no legitimate reason .

"Ultimately it will result in a reduced service" says Julie Cooper.
Really? Go in at a lunchtime (when most people can go in) and see how they're happy to leave 2 people serving while everyone queues.
If Julie Cooper is worried about Post Office "service" she might want to focus her attention on discouraging the CWU from calling wildcat strikes in Burnley for no legitimate reason .Truth will out

"Ultimately it will result in a reduced service" says Julie Cooper. Really? Go in at a lunchtime (when most people can go in) and see how they're happy to leave 2 people serving while everyone queues. If Julie Cooper is worried about Post Office "service" she might want to focus her attention on discouraging the CWU from calling wildcat strikes in Burnley for no legitimate reason .

Score: 8

psch says...9:47pm Fri 7 Mar 14

I haven't been in a post office for at least 3 years; like many others. That's why they are closing. The staff in Burnley have accelerated their demise by their appalling customer service typified by manned closed counters whilst there are many waiting and increasing numbers like me have given up on them

I haven't been in a post office for at least 3 years; like many others. That's why they are closing. The staff in Burnley have accelerated their demise by their appalling customer service typified by manned closed counters whilst there are many waiting and increasing numbers like me have given up on thempsch

I haven't been in a post office for at least 3 years; like many others. That's why they are closing. The staff in Burnley have accelerated their demise by their appalling customer service typified by manned closed counters whilst there are many waiting and increasing numbers like me have given up on them

Score: 10

Copperhead says...9:20am Sat 8 Mar 14

The Royal Mail is now a private business. Watch all the Post Offices in prime locations close and services either go on-line or, like Burnley, become operated by established retailers. BIG bonuses for all the directors and bumper returns for shareholders due to the sale of all these prime properties. Eventually, all shares will be snapped up by foreign interests and someone like Deutsche Post will run the Royal Mail. It's called asset stripping, a favourite capitalist occupation, and is exactly what happened to the railways and the buses. One happy note though - Deutsche Post is German so they will hopefully bring some Teutonic efficiency to the miserable organisation that is our Royal Mail.

The Royal Mail is now a private business.
Watch all the Post Offices in prime locations close and services either go on-line or, like Burnley, become operated by established retailers.
BIG bonuses for all the directors and bumper returns for shareholders due to the sale of all these prime properties.
Eventually, all shares will be snapped up by foreign interests and someone like Deutsche Post will run the Royal Mail.
It's called asset stripping, a favourite capitalist occupation, and is exactly what happened to the railways and the buses.
One happy note though - Deutsche Post is German so they will hopefully bring some Teutonic efficiency to the miserable organisation that is our Royal Mail.Copperhead

The Royal Mail is now a private business. Watch all the Post Offices in prime locations close and services either go on-line or, like Burnley, become operated by established retailers. BIG bonuses for all the directors and bumper returns for shareholders due to the sale of all these prime properties. Eventually, all shares will be snapped up by foreign interests and someone like Deutsche Post will run the Royal Mail. It's called asset stripping, a favourite capitalist occupation, and is exactly what happened to the railways and the buses. One happy note though - Deutsche Post is German so they will hopefully bring some Teutonic efficiency to the miserable organisation that is our Royal Mail.

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